Radio Atlantic, IA – AM 1220

Former Iowa, Nebraska pastor sentenced

October 4th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A former minister convicted of three sexual assault charges in Council Bluffs will be resentenced on one of them, now that the Iowa Appeals Court has lowered the severity of one of his crimes. 57-year-old Efrain Umana had been convicted in January 2011 of second-degree sexual abuse, third-degree sexual abuse and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. Umana, who had led churches in Iowa and Nebraska, was given 35 years in prison. Umana had appealed the convictions, and in its ruling issued Wednesday, the Appeals Court said prosecutors didn’t present enough evidence of specific intent to commit sexual abuse. The court returned the case to district court for resentencing on a reduced assault charge.